Sociologists at City University London identified a link between wealth and the experience of pain. The research suggests that people with lower incomes report higher levels of pain, a pattern observed across diverse settings. The findings appear in a peer‑reviewed journal focused on social behavior and personality science, underscoring the social roots of what many describe as pain.
The investigation drew on data from the Gallup World Poll collected between 2009 and 2018, spanning nearly 1.3 million adults across 146 countries. Respondents reported their monthly income before tax, adjusted for household size, and answered a simple yes/no question about experiencing physical pain on the day prior to the interview. This framework allowed researchers to explore pain as a subjective emotion that can arise even in the absence of an obvious physical injury.
In this view, pain is treated as an emotional state with broad consequences. It can diminish leisure activities, reduce workplace productivity, and drive up health care costs. The study notes links to higher risks of substance use and suicidal thoughts when pain is persistent or poorly managed, highlighting the wider social and economic ripple effects.
Across the dataset, the pattern held: individuals with lower incomes reported higher instances of pain, a finding that persisted when comparing residents of wealthier nations with those in poorer countries. The research suggests that economic strain is a meaningful contributor to everyday discomfort, beyond any single country or culture.
Researchers emphasize that negative emotional experiences tied to income comparisons appear to be central to the observed pain levels. People often measure their own financial status against that of peers and neighbors, which can amplify feelings of deprivation and stress. This process of social comparison is proposed as a key mechanism linking income and pain in daily life (Source: City University London study).